Matt Williams and Watch Me VD Mangelaar. Credit: Nicol Taylor
We are just days away from knowing which combinations will comprise Australia’s Dressage and Jumping teams at the 2012 London Olympic Games but before the teams are revealed one final challenge stands in the way.
The second and final Dressage and Jumping nomination events are taking place this weekend and riders have assembled in France to compete in what will be their final opportunity to impress national selectors.
Dressage riders will be in action outside of Paris at the Compiegne CDI3* while Jumpers will compete at the Bourg-en-Bresse CSI4*.
A good result this weekend could put riders on the path to London and Olympic glory.
Lyndal Oatley is hoping she and her horse Sandro Boy, aptly nicknamed Storm Boy after they faced disastrous conditions at the first nomination event in Manheim (GER), fare better with the weather this weekend
“We have prepared well for this event and I am ready for whatever heads my way, although I would prefer better weather than in Mannheim,” Lyndal said. “I have checked the weather forecast and there is a chance of rain over the
Grand Prix days so I’m hoping "Storm Boy" is not facing weather like last time but just in case I have extra gloves and a lot of towels and am off to find gumboots,” she added.
If Lyndal gets the call up from selectors, London will be her first Olympic Games.
“The feelings I have at the moment are exactly the same as they were leading up to Mannheim,” she said. “I feel anxious, excited but also focused on getting the job done. We all want one of the three places on the team and we know what we need to do to get there.”
With Dressage rider Rachael Sanna withdrawing from the event after veterinary advice sidelined her horse, the Bev and John Edwards owned Jaybee Alabaster, there are seven riders vying for three positions on the Dressage team.
There are four positions* on the Jumping team and with Edwina Tops-Alexander already occupying one of those places through early selection, three spots are up for grabs.
27 year old Matt Williams, who along with Edwina was a member of Australia’s Jumping team which finished seventh at Beijing, is one of seven riders in contention for the team.
“We have a good mix of seasoned campaigners and first time Olympic hopefuls vying for a spot and they are all determined and focused on performing at their best so we will have a good, solid team to take to London,” said National
Performance Director for Jumping Stephen Lamb.
“This nomination process has worked well for us previously producing strong competitive teams at the last Olympics and World Equestrian Games and I’m confident that the riders and horses we announce next week will do Australia proud,” he added.
Jumping combinations competing at Bourg-en-Bresse CSI4* 31 May – 3 June 2012
Matt Williams Watch Me VD Mangelaar
James Paterson-Robinson Lanosso
Julia Hargreaves Vedor
Paul Athanasoff Wirragulla Nicklaus
Amy Graham Bella Baloubet
Harley Brown Cassiato
Danielle Butcher Twins Big Higgs
Dressage combinations competing at Compiegne CDI3* 1 – 3 June 2012
Brett Parbery Lord of Loxley
Chantal Wigan Ferero
Hayley Beresford Belissimo NRW
Kristy Oatley Clive
Kristy Oatley Ronan 2
Lyndal Oatley Sandro Boy
Mary Hanna Sancette
Mary Hanna Umbro
Rozzie Ryan GV Bullwinkle
Follow Equestrian Australia and An Eventful Life on Facebook and twitter for the latest results and updates. Full reports from each event will be available here and at http://www.equestrian.org.au
*A fifth combination will act as the team’s reserve
Michelle Cook, Equestrian Australia
